Jury convicts former Nassau County Executive in bribery case

New York: A jury has found Edward P. Mangano, the former Executive of Nassau County on Long Island, guilty of charges of accepting bribes and kickbacks from Harendra Singh, a once high-flying restaurateur, federal officials said on Friday.

Singh has pleaded guilty to bribing Mangano and in a deal with the prosecutors testified against him.

“Mangano abused his power as a public official by taking bribes and kickbacks from a businessman in exchange for helping him obtain loans worth millions of taxpayer dollars,” federal prosecutor Richard Donoghue said.

Mangano’s wife, Linda, who was convicted of conspiracy and other charges, had “a bogus job as a food taster and menu planner at one of Singh’s restaurants,” said William F. Sweeney, an FBI Assistant Director.

The couple faces prison sentences of many years. Last year their first trial ended without a conviction because of a hung jury.